Mining/Geology

Recent Discovery of Gold at Oaks View near Rockhampton – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 199 – Lionel C Ball – 1905

Lionel Ball was the Assistant Government Geologist at the time and author of many of the good standard surveys at the very start of the 1900’s.

Bound in original olive green card covers. Title to front and repeated inside. A total of 11 pages with map of area and two images from photographs – the Hill and the Main Workings.has been folded at some time causing minor splits, generally a good copy.

Oaks View Hill is near Canoona, four miles north of the then Oaks Station and, 45 miles from Rockhampton.

The hill is about half a mile long and one third across rising to 150 feet – the rocks are chiefly quartzites and schists.

In October 1903, W.S. Thomason discovered gold on the surface at Oaks View Hill. Nothing was done until the following February when on showing the place to relatives, some minor effort showed payable gold. Reward claims were allotted and the good results started a mini-rush. By the end of 1904 a company was floated and capital raised. Other adventurers took up positions around the primary claim.

The small but detailed sketch map has some curiosity as in the finest of hands someone with clear interest has made annotations.

We do know that Ball came back the next year and things has moved forward significantly with heavy gear having been purchased. However, there were issues with the lack of water, and we are not sure what eventuated.

The history is difficult to track and can be easily confused with the Oaks Mine further north

The beginning of a story? The discovery of payable gold at oaks View Hill.

$50.00

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Gold Workings at Perry Scrub – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 184 – Lionel C Ball – 1903

Lionel Ball was the Assistant Government Geologist at the time and author of many of the good standard surveys at the very start of the 1900’s.

Bound in original olive green card covers. Title to front and repeated inside. Narrative comprises 14 pages with map of area and relevant diagrams.

“The Perry (Good-night or Tenningering) Scrub extends in the form of a narrow belt from saint Agnes Creek, on the north, to the Burnett River west of Paradise, on the south, crossing the Perry River about 6 miles above its junction with the Burnett”.

The conclusion is ambivalent – a number of early diggings have been abandoned – others showing some promise. The key thing being loads of surface quartz so really those trying were scratching. Even today a wonder around the area can show up some decent nuggets – see online.

Perry Scrub another neglected one to ponder about

$50.00

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Mining Smelting Railways of the Rosebery region [Western Tasmania] – Ian Stewart – 1984

We really admire the likes of Ian Stewart who put the effort in to gather, digest and present histories of the likes of Rosebery and its surrounding region at the very heart of geology and mining in Tasmania – so much potentially to be forgotten history.

Published in 194 as a second edition – we cannot find a first and only one other second for sale. Would have been produced in small numbers.

Sponsored by the EZ Mining Company. Larger format card covers, deign to front, staple bound, 70 pages. Acknowledgements inside back cover, map of the region including the railways and tram lines, many images from period photographs, very grainy images but forgive them for their relevance and rarity.

Whilst focused around Rosebery [our favourite continuing Tasmanian mine] we have good content on Dundas, Mt Williamsford and Zeehan and its before time smelter capacity [Originally German owned and taken at the outset of WWI]. The rapid development and demise of Dundas – the two foot rail gauge and the politics around the Emu Bay destination all add interest.

Rosebery Mining a fascinating history

$50.00

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Mining by W.D. & H.O. Wills – hard to find complete set of 50 cards circa 1912 issued by Wills of Bristol and London.

Very good condition, now protected in standard card wallets.

Seven cards represent Coal Mining featuring Miner Holing; Miner Drilling and Blasting; Electric Coal Cutters; Electric Train; Taking Coal to Pit Mouth by Pony; At the Bottom of the Shaft; Sorting and Cleaning Coal and the all important Mine Surveyor.

Cards specific to Australia include B.H.P. Silver Mine Mechanical Feed and a General View of the Mine … Mount Morgan Gold (with it interesting story) anD Digging and Washing Sapphires in Queensland.

The rest Of the world is represented including Asbestos at Thetford Canada; China Clay at St Austell Cornwall; Copper at the famous Rio Tinto Mine Spain; Diamonds at Kimberley; Tin at Perak Malaya; Turquoises from Nishapour, Persia; Rock salt in Cheshire; Rubies from Burma etc etc

Large 50 card Mining set over 100 years old.

$120.00

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Vacuum Pump with Dome – Griffin and Tatlock c 1930 – Super Example

A very good working example of a vacuum hand pump, complete with glass dome from notable maker Griffin and Tatlock [a design by John Griffin]

Nice oak handle, the brass pump body retains its original lacquer, valve moves freely and pumps seals nicely. The glass dome with bell top handle is ground for contact with the pump base plate [in operation this would be grease/ vaseline sealed. There is a small chip to the inside rim but not impinging on the “sealability” of the instrument.

Carries the Griffin and Tatlock branding plaque. We can date this to around 1930 as John Griffin and sons merged with the distinguished Scottish form Baird and Tatlock circa 1925.

Dimensions approx. – 40 cm long 30 cm high and 18 cm wide. Not really suitable for overseas and will require a postage supplement dependent on buyer location.

Rare complete and working a genuine sucker.

$440.00

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A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb [South America and Mexico] – 1895

John Gladwyn Jebb led as an adventurous life as could be possible. This book was compiled by his widow and carries the introduction of adventure writer H Rider Haggard.

Jebb’s adventures began as a military man in India. Soon he was conducting privately funded explorations into Central and Southern America. Involved in numerous business dealings… helped to start White Line … was in involved in armaments. He moved to the US and the Wild West … bear hunting, gold mining and a few conflicts with local bandits and native Americans. Off to Mexico to make his fortune gold mining (made it and lost it) and much of the later part of the books is about his times in Mexico.

Published by Blackwood, Edinburgh in 1895 octavo, 271 pages, frontispiece of the great man, illustrated by John Wallace. Pictorial boards nice but a little rubbed. Overall, still a particularly good copy of a rather hard to find book.

Inspiration for Rider Haggard – John Jebb Adventurer

$50.00

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Recent Discovery of Gold at Oaks View near Rockhampton – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 199 – Lionel C Ball – 1905

Gold Workings at Perry Scrub – Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey No 184 – Lionel C Ball – 1903

Mining Smelting Railways of the Rosebery region [Western Tasmania] – Ian Stewart – 1984

Mining by W.D. & H.O. Wills – hard to find complete set of 50 cards circa 1912 issued by Wills of Bristol and London.

Vacuum Pump with Dome – Griffin and Tatlock c 1930 – Super Example

A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb [South America and Mexico] – 1895

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